World Cup 2014: Messi Wants Final Showdown Against Neymar’s Brazil

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Argentina striker Lionel Messi is looking forward to meet his Barcelona team mate Neymar in a World Cup final against Brazil.

Messi’s Argentina and Neymar’s Brazil are the two biggest contenders to lift the World Cup this summer and the FC Barcelona ace feels that it would be great to face his club team mate in World Cup final.

Messi said that: “Hopefully I can face Neymar in it, but if not him, I’d be happy to take on any other team”. Messi was speaking to Spanish daily Marca.

Neymar’s Brazil have been termed as the hottest favorites to win the World Cup this time and Messi led Argentina are the second favorites of bookies.

Argentina have not been able make their mark during recent tournaments but Messi feels that his team has learned from the past mistakes and will try to avoid them in Brazil. “We’re really up for it. I think I’ve learned from what I did wrong at previous tournaments so I won’t make the same mistakes again. There’s no doubt people are buzzing: we have a very solid group of players and haven’t lost for a while”, the FC Barcelona star stated.

Meanwhile, for the first time in his professional career, Messi spoke about his personal traits. “[On the pitch] I’m a completely different person to who I am at home. I like winning and if I have to fight or argue my way to victory, I’ll do it”. Messi said that he is completely a different person when he enters on the pitch and his only aim at that is to win the game.

Many experts have termed Argentina as the favorites to win the World Cup in South America this time and when asked about this, Messi said would be a “dream”. “Judging by how things have been coming together recently, I believe we can do it.”Argentina will be playing their first game of the World Cup against Bosnia on Sunday.

Many experts have claimed that Argentina’s team for 2006 was worthy of winning the trophy. It was Messi’s first World Cup and when asked about this to the FC Barcelona star, he got sad with the memories of Germany.”But after we got knocked out, people were very unfair to me, because the team had played very well.”

Argentina have selected a balanced squad for this summer’s World Cup. With Carlo Ancelotti playing Di Maria in a withdrawn role at Real Madrid, task of Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has got little easier as Argentina lacks the quality midfielder to partner Javier Mascherano.

The only concern about this Argentina squad is that of defence. Coach Alejandro Sabella has found it difficult to find the perfect central defensive partnership yet.